The words echoed through the dark chamber.
"My powers don't come from a weapon."
Ton slowly raised his head.
"It comes from me."
Junyu stared at him with those cold, white eyes.
"Your powers mean nothing."
In an instant, Junyu disappeared.
He reappeared directly in front of Ton and drove a punch toward his face.
Ton raised both arms.
BAM!
The punch stopped against his guard.
Ton's feet slid backward across the stone floor, but he didn't fall.
He looked directly at Junyu.
"I am going to save everyone."
Ton suddenly twisted his body and kicked Junyu with both legs.
Junyu was sent flying backward, crashing into the stone wall.
He quickly pushed himself up.
But it was already too late.
One by one, the remaining members of the crew moved toward the torches surrounding the chamber.
FWOOSH.
Every torch went dark.
The entire area disappeared into darkness.
Junyu looked around.
Nothing.
Not even a single light.
Then—
Two pure green, reptilian eyes appeared above him.
Ton was hanging against the wall, his claws gripping the stone.
Junyu looked up.
Ton dropped from the wall.
His claws struck toward Junyu's shoulder.
Junyu twisted aside and immediately jumped upward, bringing his leg toward Ton.
Ton caught his leg.
He twisted his body with the momentum, throwing Junyu off balance.
Before Junyu could recover, Ton launched himself forward and punched him.
Junyu blocked, but his eyes narrowed.
What the hell is happening?
How is Ton keeping up with me?
Salim watched from behind.
"He is Ton."
Junyu landed against the wall, his feet holding firmly against the stone.
Salim continued.
"That's why."
Junyu looked at Ton.
"You actually think you're close to me?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Come on."
He vanished.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Junyu appeared in front of Ton and struck him repeatedly before Ton could properly react.
Ton stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Defeated.
Junyu turned toward Salim.
"I will finish this now."
He charged.
Salim barely had time to react.
Junyu's attack was already coming toward him—
But suddenly, Junyu's legs were knocked away.
He lost his balance and crashed onto the ground as pieces of stone fell around him.
Junyu slowly looked up.
His expression changed.
Ton.
But this time—
His eyes weren't green.
They were black.
Ton's body began to change.
His skin slowly turned green.
Small spikes appeared across his body.
His claws grew longer.
His tail extended behind him.
The darkness seemed to surround him as his silhouette became more animalistic.
Junyu immediately attacked.
He punched Ton.
Nothing.
Ton had already moved.
Junyu attacked again.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
Ton moved so quickly that Junyu's attacks seemed to pass through empty air.
Ikiro stared in disbelief.
"What the fuck is even happening with Ton at this point?"
Salim looked at Ton.
"He is a lizard."
He paused.
"He is…"
PAST
The crew sat together.
Salim looked at Ton.
"What do you even want to be called by everyone? A lizard?"
Ton immediately shook his head.
"NO!"
He pointed at himself.
"I WANT TO BE CALLED—"
PRESENT
Salim looked toward the transformed Ton.
"He is…"
The entire chamber went silent.
"THE LIZARD-MAN."
Junyu looked at Ton from across the dark chamber.
"Oh wow."
He smiled.
"This looks like a cheap superhero knockoff."
Ton suddenly disappeared.
He appeared directly in front of Junyu and punched him.
Junyu took the hit without moving.
"Predator instincts."
His eyes remained cold.
"This is the power you have right now."
Junyu stepped forward.
"But you want more to defeat me?"
Ton slowly raised his head.
"I am already defeating you."
He lowered his body.
The claws on his hands dug into the stone.
"ONE LAST PUSH!"
Ton charged.
He punched Junyu.
Then his tail swung around and struck him from the side.
Junyu was pushed backward.
His NIT energy gathered around his body.
"Enough."
He unleashed a NIT-charged attack.
The blast tore across the dark chamber.
Ton disappeared into the darkness.
The attack missed.
Junyu looked around.
Nothing.
He turned.
Ton was already climbing the wall.
His claws dug into the stone as he moved through the darkness with incredible speed.
Junyu couldn't see him anymore.
The chamber was almost completely black.
Then—
WHOOSH!
Ton kicked Junyu directly in the face.
Junyu caught the attack.
He grabbed Ton's leg and forced him away.
Ton's claws scraped against the ground as he landed.
Michael stared in disbelief.
"It's astounding…"
He watched Ton rise again.
"Ton is really the best."
Junyu looked at him.
"It's over."
He stepped forward.
"You are done."
Ton remained completely still.
Then he slowly looked around the chamber.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Look where you are standing."
Junyu stopped.
His eyes shifted downward.
The darkness suddenly made sense.
Something was beneath his feet.
Something Ton had been leading him toward the entire time.